Statement by TUV South Down Assembly candidate Henry Reilly:
“I was disappointed to learn that the PPS has been asked by the Attorney General to review the decision not to prosecute police officers following the shooting of IRA terrorist Colum Marks in 1991.
“Let’s state some facts.
“Marks was a terrorist who was shot during an attempted mortar bomb attack on Downpatrick RUC station. A primed mortar bomb was found near his body. It had been triggered and had only failed to go off because the command wire had malfunctioned.
“The IRA themselves described Marks as their officer commanding in the Downpatrick area.
“He had no thought for the lives of police officers when he went out with that bomb. He went out with the intent of causing as much death and destruction as possible.
“Yet now the decision not to prosecute RUC officers for his death is being reviewed.
“What madness!
“Does anyone seriously believe that the French security personnel who thankfully took out Islamic terrorists in the aftermath of the Paris attacks should be brought before the courts?
“This news will be particularly insulting and distressing to innocent victims of the IRA who see members of that organisation elevated to the heart of government while those who held the line against terror face the prospect of being dragged before the courts.”